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Both Roger and his father urged Ben and Jerry to come home with them for dinner, but the older brother declined, saying that they had many things to talk over between them. Already Ben had found that Jerry was disinclined to answer his eager questions in the presence of the strangers, and he was consumed with curiosity...
“Oh, good! I wish I could ‘a’ been there to see it. Mother she’s kept some hot bread for you and some coffee. She said you’d be hungry.” “That’s right,” confirmed Mrs. Jones, her ample figure appearing in the doorway. “You’re young and strong, and I don’t b’lieve hot bread will do no damage to your dejesshun. Joel, my ...
“Land sakes!” breathed the good woman, putting up both hands. “Come right in and set down to the table. Mamie, she’s gone out somewhere, an’ Sadie’s having one of her chills. Don’t stumble on the doorstool. Right this way.” Gently but firmly she swept them into the room, where the table still sat with the white cloth a...
“So did I,” said Jerry. “It ’most felt like I was kind of flying through the air. I hope I ain’t making nobody a lot of trouble, coming so unexpected this way.” “Trouble!” beamed Mrs. Jones. “My gracious! I should say not! Why, Ben he’s gittin’ to be ’most like one of my fambly, though sometimes it’s hard work makin’ h...
“I think we can,” laughed Ben. “I know I’m mighty hungry, and I expect Jerry is, too.” Jerry was hungry, indeed; really, the little fellow was almost starved, and it was with no small difficulty that he repressed the eager desire to gulp his food. Watching him, the widow understood, and covertly, even while she talked ...
“You’ve been very good indeed to me, Mrs. Jones—almost like a mother,” returned Ben. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you.” “Now don’t talk that way. Goodness gracious! ain’t y’u fussed ’round amusin’ Jimmy, a-fixin’ squirrel traps an’ swings an’ things for him? That’s more’n squared any little thing I coul...
“’Course y’u can feed him,” said the widow quickly. “I sorter forgot about him. Lemme look, an’ I’ll see if I’ve got a bone in the pantry.” She found some bones and scraps, which she brought forth on a plate, and Jimmy, begging the privilege, was permitted to feed Pilot, who expressed his appreciation by a sharp bark a...
“Ben! Ben!” he exclaimed. “It’s not Bern Hayden who—who used to live in Hilton—not that fellow?” “Yes, Jerry, it’s the same fellow. He lives here in Oakdale now.” “But, Ben, he—why, you know what he did. You know——” “I’m not likely to forget it, Jerry.”
“He hates you.” “There’s not an atom of love lost between us,” was the grim retort. “He made you go away from Hilton.” “And he tried to drive me out of Oakdale, but he failed in that, Jerry. He came mighty near it, it’s true, and only for the good friends I made here he would have succeeded. His old father even went to...
“Oh, I’m afraid of them, Ben! I know Bern Hayden would do anything to hurt you—anything.” “You needn’t be afraid. Roger Eliot is my friend; his father is, too, and Mr. Eliot has fully as much strength and influence in Oakdale as Lemuel Hayden.” “That’s right,” confirmed Mrs. Jones, “and he’s lived here lots longer. Eve...
“I won’t keep y’u up no longer, for I know y’u must be tired an’ want to go to bed—anyhow, I’m dead sartain your brother is plumb pegged out. But to-morrer is the day of rest, an’ y’u can sleep jest as late as y’u want to.” Good nights were said, and the brothers mounted the narrow back stairs, Ben assisting Jerry whil...
------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXIII. THE BLIND FUGITIVE. Ben was startled. “Dead,” he cried, aghast—“Uncle Asher dead?”
“Yes,” answered Jerry, sitting on the edge of the bed, “he was took off sudden, Ben. He didn’t live much more’n an hour after he was struck down. It was apoplexy or something like that. The doctor, he couldn’t do anything. Uncle, he never spoke but once, and that was just before he went. Of course I was awful scat, Ben...
“I wanted to tell you all about it when we met back there on the road,” said Jerry; “but I thought perhaps it wasn’t best to talk too much before other people. I was afraid to talk, Ben, and I’ve got good reasons to be afraid. Listen, Ben; I ran away.” “You—you what?” gasped the older lad in great astonishment. “I ran ...
“Because—because they were going to send me off to some institution for poor and helpless children. I heard them talking about it, the doctor and the lawyer and one or two of the neighbors. They didn’t know I heard them, but I couldn’t help listening. The lawyer had come, and he said he’d drawn up Uncle Asher’s will fo...
“Oh, Jerry,” cried Ben sympathetically—“oh, Jerry, it must have been terrible!” He seated himself beside the blind lad, about whose shoulders his arm was tenderly flung. The little dog, half dozing on the floor, rolled a contented, satisfied eye toward them and closed it again. “I can’t tell you all we did and all we w...
“It was, Jerry; it must have been. Something led you to me, and something guarded you from capture until you had found me.” “But what if they find me now, Ben—what can we do?” The older lad meditated a moment. “I can take care of you, Jerry,” he said. “I’m strong, and I can work. I’ll have to give up school for a time ...
“And only for Bern Hayden,” exclaimed Ben bitterly, “I’d never have such a reputation! We’ll do the best we can, Jerry; don’t you worry. Fortune has seemed to favor me here in Oakdale, and I feel sure everything is bound to come out all right in the end. We won’t be separated, little brother; we’ll stick together.” ---...
Again Ben Stone found himself confronted by a problem that demanded immediate solution. It disturbed his pillow long after Jerry, wearied to the extreme, was sleeping soundly; and when at last he slept it gave him troubled dreams. He was first to waken in the morning, and, when he would have slept still longer, the gre...
“You won’t let them take me away, will you, Ben?” “No, Jerry, they shall not take you away.” Mrs. Jones would have had them down to breakfast, but when she came to call them they had eaten from Ben’s small store of apples and sandwiches, and they seemed quite happy and contented, so that she had no glimpse of the threa...
They were sitting there, talking, when a small, flat-bottomed punt containing a single occupant rounded Pine Point in full view and was paddled toward them. The person in the boat was Spotty Davis, who, despite the fact that it was Sunday, had been fishing. He discovered them almost immediately, and, recognizing Ben, c...
“Down, Pilot! Be still!” commanded Jerry. And, although he obeyed, the dog continued to regard Davis with suspicious eyes. “This is my brother Jerry,” explained Ben. “He arrived in Oakdale last night. Jerry, this is one of my friends, Tim Davis.” “Your brother, hey?” said Spotty, taking the thin hand Jerry held forth. ...
“Sho! Can’t see nothin’? Jerusalem! that’s tough. Can’t he really see nothin’ at all?” “As far as sight is concerned, he can’t distinguish daylight from darkness.” “Whew!” breathed Spotty, sitting down and staring at Jerry. “I never see nobody like that before. You never told me about him, Ben; you’ve never said much o...
“Well, not much; he just sorter knocked you, and I s’posed that was ’cause he was sore on you. Say, I guess you proved that you could play football yesterday. Bern didn’t have much on you in that game. Wasn’t it tough I got knocked out? Them fellers kind of picked me out and soaked me. They’ve always had a grudge again...
“Guess ’tis,” admitted Davis. “I ain’t had a bite. We can generally ketch pick’rel pretty late, though.” Ben rose and assisted Jerry to his feet. “I think we’ll go back,” he said. “What’s your hurry?” asked Davis. “It’s kinder comf’table here. The wind don’t cut into this cove, and the sun’s warm.” But they left him, a...
“Oh, I reckon he’s a harmless fellow, and he was one of the first in Oakdale to be really friendly toward me; I can’t forget that.” When they reached the house they learned that Roger Eliot had been there asking for them. “He seemed real disapp’inted,” said the widow. “P’raps y’u’d better walk ’round to his house an’ s...
Stone appeared at school the following day wearing a gravely troubled face, which led Eliot to question him, and he was on the point of telling Roger everything and asking his advice when several other boys came up and the opportunity was lost. All day long Ben’s mind dwelt on the perplexing problem, and gradually he c...
Practice was begun without Stone. In the midst of it he appeared, wearing his plain, homespun clothes, and called to the captain. “Roger,” he said, “I can’t play football any more.” Eliot uttered an exclamation of surprise. “Why not, Ben? What’s the matter now?” “I told you my story some time ago; you’re the only one w...
“Oh, say, that’s too bad, Stone, old chap! Now don’t be hasty; let’s think this matter over. Perhaps my father will do something for Jerry.” Ben shook his head. “I couldn’t permit my brother to accept charity, Roger; I thank you very much for the generous thought, but I’ve made up my mind. I’ve left the suit you loaned...
Stone went down into the village to purchase a pair of shoes for Jerry, whose footwear was almost wholly gone to the uppers. In his timidity the blind boy had remained all day long in that room at Mrs. Jones’, again beset by fear that the pursuers he dreaded might find him; and he was even unwilling to be seen in the v...
“Oh, less than an hour, I guess. He’d just struck town, and he’s gone over to the hotel for supper.” Ben ran all the way back to Mrs. Jones’ house. At the door he met Spotty Davis, who had just come down the back stairs. Davis seemed a trifle startled. “Hello, Ben!” he exclaimed. “I just dropped round to see ye. Found ...
“Sure,” said Davis, with great willingness, as he passed on. At the gate Davis paused an instant to glance back; but Ben had disappeared, and Spotty scudded away into the gathering twilight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXV.
FLIGHT. Ben mounted the stairs in haste. “Here, Jerry,” he said, “let me try these shoes on you. Let’s see if they fit.” His hands trembled a bit as he removed the remnants of the shoes the blind boy had worn and tried the others upon Jerry’s feet. “How do they feel?” he asked, as he hastened to lace them. “All right,”...
But even the little yellow dog seemed to realize that something was wrong, for he moved about uneasily, eying the brothers and whining. “I’ve decided we had better leave Oakdale at once—right away,” said Ben, as he rose to his feet. “Sit still, Jerry, while I gather up the things I must take.” “Ben,” said the younger l...
“They will take me away from you, brother—they will separate us!” he exclaimed. “They shall not!” cried the older lad fiercely. “I had decided already to leave Oakdale to-morrow; we’ll leave to-night—we’ll slip away at once. Keep still, Jerry, and I’ll make all the preparations.” “But what if that man should come—what ...
Indeed, it did not take Ben Stone long to make a bundle of the few belongings he felt he must take. A great deal of his poor personal property he had resolved to abandon for the time being, confident that Mrs. Jones would take care of everything for him. Sometime when there was no longer danger he could recover it all....
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all your kindness to me and to my little blind brother. I’m forced to do what I am doing, though I regret it very much. I wish I might say good-by to you and to Jimmy, but I do not dare. I know I shall always be ashamed and sorry for this last thing I have done, but I couldn’...
“Come,” entreated Jerry; and they fled on past the silent academy, the gym and the athletic field—on into the bleak night. The blind boy had brought his violin, and it was swung by the cord over his back. With the village behind them, Ben paused once more to look around. The lights of Oakdale twinkled far down the road...
“If you, blind and alone, save for Pilot, could avoid pursuers so long, surely together we must find it a simpler matter. Trust me. This is not the first time I have been forced into running away.” “I know—I know; but they didn’t try to catch you, Ben. They let you go and thought it good riddance. Now it’s different.” ...
They came to Barville, ten miles from Oakdale, and were in the outskirts of the dark and silent village before they were aware of it. They were tempted to try to circle round the place, fearing someone might see them, but only two or three dim lights gleamed faintly from windows, and not a soul did they encounter on th...
The rain, driven in the teeth of the wind, soon drenched him through; and when at last he perceived near the road an old barn with no house at hand, even Ben was more than willing to stop. “I think the house must have burned down,” he said, “for there isn’t any to be seen. It’s a good place, Jerry. We must be eighteen ...
“Maybe not. We’ll hope so, anyway. Bern Hayden will be glad when he finds out. He’ll rejoice over it.” They burrowed into the hay and talked for a time of various plans, while gradually, in spite of their drenched condition, the heat of their bodies as they snuggled close together warmed them through. Pilot crept up ag...
“Wait—wait; my time will come!” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXVI. THE ARREST.
A lance of sunshine, piercing a crack in the old barn, struck squarely into Ben Stone’s eyes and awoke him. For a few moments he lay still without comprehending, the odor of the haymow in his nostrils; his head alone was uncovered by the hay into which the fugitives had burrowed. High up in the peak of the barn the mor...
“Oh, I’m glad you did; I’m glad to know we’re together again. It is morning.” “Yes, it is morning; the sun is shining.” “I’m warm and dry and comfortable now. I was so wet and cold when we found this place last night!” “It was a mean old night. If it hadn’t stormed, we’d got a much bigger start—we’d be lots further awa...
“We’d better stay here all day long, Ben, for anyone won’t be likely to find us. That’s the way I did at first—hid in the daytime and traveled at night.” “But we brought no food, and we must have something to eat. I’m afraid you’re hungry now, Jerry.” “Oh, not a bit,” was the assurance. “It ain’t so hard for a feller t...
“But if you try it now somebody who sees you may send word back to Oakdale. Please don’t try it now, Ben, for truly I’m not hungry. Where’s Pilot?” For the first time they thought of the little dog, and, to their surprise and dismay, he was gone. Ben, however, was far more concerned than Jerry over this. “He’ll come ba...
“Poor little chap!” murmured Ben with infinite tenderness. “You’ve had a hard time of it, but I’m going to stick by you now and take care of you always. I can do it, and I will.” The silence in the barn was so profound that he could hear crickets fiddling in the thickets of brown, rain-washed grass outside. With a clat...
Even as these words were uttered they heard the voices of men and the tramp of heavy feet. One of Jerry’s hands found Pilot’s collar, and beneath that touch the dog crouched upon the hay and was still. There seemed to be two men. “The critter sartainly come right in here,” said one of them. “Mebbe ’tain’t the same dorg...
“Here they be!” As the other man came scrambling to the mow, Ben threw aside the hay and sat up. “What do you want?” he asked huskily. One man, tall and thin, with a bunch of tobacco-stained whiskers on his chin, answered immediately:
“We want you, and, by hokey, we’ve got ye!” “Oh, Ben!” sobbed Jerry, likewise sitting up. “Oh, Ben!” In a moment Pilot bristled and barked savagely at the men, who, however, betrayed no shade of alarm over this demonstration. “If I hadn’t spied that yaller cur,” said the shorter man of the two, “we might never located ...
“That’s all right, Hubbard; you’ll git all the credit that’s comin’ to ye, don’t worry.” Ben had seen both men in Oakdale. The taller was William Pickle, a deputy sheriff; the other Abel Hubbard, a constable. The deputy stooped and fastened a strong hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Come on,” he ordered. “You took a long walk l...
“Goin’ to take ye back to Oakdale, of course.” “What for? What have I done?” “I ruther guess you know. You’re a slippery rascal, and you’ve left a record behind ye everywhere you’ve been. Gimme the irons, Hubbard.” There was a clanking, rattling sound as the constable brought forth a pair of handcuffs, at sight of whic...
“Don’t you put those things on me!” he shouted furiously. “I haven’t done anything.” Both men held him, and, in spite of his struggles, the manacles were snapped upon his wrists; while Jerry, still sitting on the mow, pleaded and sobbed and wrung his hands, the little dog vainly seeking to soothe him by trying to lick ...
“I haven’t done anything to be arrested,” protested Ben wildly. “I have a right to take care of my own brother, for he’s blind and can’t look out for himself.” “Purty good bluffer,” grinned Abel Hubbard. “That’s all right; ’twon’t do him no good,” returned the deputy sheriff. “Course he’s got sense enough to know anyth...
“Robbery,” said Pickle; “and there’s sartainly evidence enough to put ye behind the bars. You might jest as well come along quiet, for it won’t do ye no good resistin’. We’d better be movin’, Hubbard.” They dragged him down from the mow, Jerry following, dumb with anguish. At a distance from the barn a horse, attached ...
“We ain’t got no orders to take only jest him,” said William Pickle. “The wagon ain’t roomy enough to carry you, too, and so we can’t bother with ye. Mebbe ’twas an oversight we wa’n’t give’ orders to fetch ye, for you might serve as a witness against him; but, having neither authority nor room, we won’t cumber ourselv...
THE DARKEST HOUR. The Oakdale lockup was beneath the Town Hall, and into that cage for culprits Stone was thrust. Curious and unfriendly eyes had seen him brought back into the village. As the post office was passed, one of a group of men lounging on the steps called out: “I see you got the critter, Bill.” “Yep,” answe...
“There,” he said, “I don’t guess you’ll break out of here. There’s a chair and a bunk, and you better make yo’rself as comf’table as ye can. Hubbard will have charge of ye now till you’re brought to trial.” The door closed heavily behind the departing officer, the bolt grating harshly in the lock. On the journey back t...
“I say it’s just inhuman to treat the poor boy in sech a fashion! You ain’t fed him, y’u say; y’u ain’t even found out if he’s hongry an’ starvin’. I’ve brung him some vittles, an’ the least y’u can do is feed him. I don’t b’lieve he ever stole nothin’, an’ I’ll never b’lieve it till it’s proved ag’in’ him. He’s a good...
“He’s been up to things wuss’n that, and his father before him was a jailbird. Blood will tell, Mis’ Jones—blood will tell. I s’pose he orter have somethin’ to eat, but we’ve been so busy we ain’t got ’round to feed him yet. I’ll give him the grub you’ve brung. Yes, I’ll give it to him now, Mis’ Jones; but you better s...
He had eaten some of the beans and one of the doughnuts when Hubbard reopened the door on a crack and thrust in a pitcher of water, which he left standing upon the floor. The time passed with leaden feet. He had ceased trying to understand; he waited dumbly. Far away a bell clanged, sending a slight shudder through him...
Ben had risen. His eyes met those of Roger squarely, and in a moment the latter rushed forward with his hand outstretched. “Stone, old fellow,” said Eliot, “this is tough luck.” Their hands met, and there was strength and reassurance in the grip Roger gave. “I didn’t hear what had happened to you until intermission tim...
The lawyer likewise took the hand of the accused boy, looking earnestly into his face. “Mr. Eliot,” he said, “seems to think there must be some mistake. He is unwilling to believe you are guilty, my lad.” Ben’s face, which had been quite pale, flushed deeply; for, of a sudden, his heart sent the blood leaping through h...
“As your counsel,” said the lawyer, “I have come to talk the matter over with you, that I may prepare to defend you when the trial is called at ten o’clock to-morrow. I shall ask you some questions, and you must answer them frankly, fully and truthfully.” “You shall have a truthful answer to every question you ask, sir...
“Then you may not be aware that two lockers at the gymnasium were broken open, that of Roger and of Bernard Hayden.” “I know nothing about it, sir.” “They were broken open and pilfered while football practice was in progress last night. Roger’s watch and some money belonging to him were taken; Hayden likewise lost a wa...
“That’s it!” cried Roger. “The very question I asked.” “But why did you run away?” interrogated the lawyer, watching Ben intently. Stone answered that question without hesitation. In doing so, he went back to the cause of Jerry’s flight from the home of his dead uncle, explaining how the blind lad had been pursued even...
“This clears up that point, which I could not understand,” smiled Roger in great satisfaction. “I knew there must be some other explanation than that Ben had fled to escape arrest. The man arrived at Mrs. Jones’ house while Deputy Sheriff Pickle was searching Ben’s room. He was intensely disappointed when he found he h...
“Which doubtless will be the best thing that could happen,” was the lawyer’s opinion. “We must bring the man and your brother back to Oakdale. We’ll need them both at the trial to establish the motive for your flight. It’s really unfortunate that the officers who arrested you didn’t bring Jerry along also.” “But we’ll ...
He had spoken in a convincing manner, and the lawyer nodded his head slowly. “A straightforward statement, my lad; but how that stolen property came to be concealed in your bed is a staggering question.” “Someone must have placed those things there—some enemy of mine. I have a bitter enemy.” “He means Bern Hayden,” sai...
“We’ll do our best to get this business straightened out and cleared up,” promised the lawyer; “and, in order that we may make all possible haste, I’ll have to telephone right away and try to locate the man who gave his name as Henry Bailey—the man who was trying to catch your brother. Keep up your courage, my boy, and...
As night was coming on Mrs. Jones brought a huge steaming bowl of lamb stew, and with it more words of cheer. Ben ate the stew, every bit of it. The window above his prison door he left open to admit air when he finally lay down upon the hard bunk. Occasional sounds from the village drifted in upon him. Once he heard s...
------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXVIII. ON TRIAL. The trial of Ben Stone had begun. It was held in the Town Hall, which proved none too large to hold comfortably the surprising number of curious persons who flocked thither; for in any small country town that is somewhat ...
The clerk had done his part, the case had been stated, and Lawyer Frances, representing the prosecution, had made his opening, telling plainly and concisely what he would attempt to prove. A part of the stolen property—all that had been recovered—together with some other articles in evidence, could be seen on a table a...
“Go on, officer,” urged Lawyer Frances. “What did you do then?” “At young Hayden’s request I searched the place,” said Pickle. “Under the straw tick of the bed I found two watches, two rings, and some money, amounting to purty nigh ten dollars.” “Are these the watches and the rings?” questioned the lawyer, handing the ...
“And the money here——” “I wouldn’t swear to that; but they was a five dollar bill, a two dollar bill, and quite a lot of coin.” “Did you find anything else?” “Yep; a letter—that is, a sort of a letter, writ in lead pencil and apparently scratched off in a mighty hurry.”
“Is this it?” The sheet on which Ben had written his hasty farewell to Mrs. Jones was taken from the table and handed to the deputy sheriff for inspection. “Sartin, that’s it,” declared the officer. “I read the most of it, though part was scrawled so that I couldn’t make it out.” “Your Honor,” said the prosecuting atto...
Pickle went on to tell how, urged by Bern Hayden and his father, he had set out at once to trace the fugitives, and had finally succeeded, through the discovery of the blind boy’s little dog, in apprehending Ben some miles beyond Barville. “Course,” concluded the officer, “we give the feller warnin’ that anything he sa...
That was all; with a gesture Lawyer Marsh signified that he did not wish to cross-question the officer, and Pickle sat down. Bern Hayden was called next, and as he rose Ben Stone’s hand involuntarily went up to his mutilated ear, while his pale face became, if possible, a shade more pallid. He kept his eyes unflinching...
“Hayden,” said the lawyer, “you were acquainted with Benjamin Stone ere you came here to Oakdale, were you not?” “Yes, sir.” “You knew him, I believe, in Hilton, his native town?” “I did, sir.”
“And, if I am not misinformed, you had some trouble with him there, did you not?” “Yes.” “Was not this trouble of a somewhat serious nature—a personal encounter between you and Stone, which led you to entertain the most intense feelings of animosity toward him?” “I object, Your Honor,” cried Lawyer Frances. “I can’t se...
“Your Honor,” beamed Marsh placidly, “I propose to establish that this feeling of animosity which young Hayden entertained toward Stone has a great deal to do with the case. I propose to show a motive on Hayden’s part which might lead him into an effort to injure my client.” “Go on,” said the judge. “Objection overrule...
“Never mind that,” interrupted Marsh sharply. “Answer my questions, that’s all. You admit a feeling of dislike for Stone?” “Nobody ever liked him—before he came here; and he wouldn’t have had any friends here if, by accident, he hadn’t——” “We’ll cut that out also. Is it not true that on finding Stone in this town you e...
“Look here, I want to know if it’s my son who is on trial.” “Not yet, sir—not yet,” answered Lawyer Marsh serenely. The judge rapped sharply for order and requested Mr. Hayden not to interrupt the proceedings. Having led Bern into acknowledging he had done his best to force Ben out of Oakdale Academy, Lawyer Marsh seem...
Roger Eliot came next, identifying one of the watches as belonging to him, and stating he had lost a little over two dollars in coin, which had been taken from his locker. These were all the witnesses against the prisoner, and Marsh, after a brief opening address, began by calling those who had been summoned for him. H...
Ben was next called upon, and after a moment of faltering he told his story in a slow, distinct manner, making it straightforward and simple. And as he proceeded the unfavorable impression that had prevailed concerning him was gradually dispelled; for surely he did not speak like a desperate character or a thief; nor w...
“Speak a bit louder, witness,” commanded the judge. “When Stone left the field you followed him, didn’t you?” asked Marsh. “I—I dunno; I guess so. I never noticed.” “Do you mean to say that you did not see Stone when he departed from the field?”
“Why, nun-no; I saw him. I guess ’t’wa’n’t long after he left before I got out. There wa’n’t no use hangin’ round longer, for Eliot had tole me he didn’t want me on the team any more.” “On leaving the field, whither did you go?” “To the gym.” “Did you find Stone there?”
“Nope—no, sir. There wa’n’t nobody there.” “Why did you go to the gym?” “To peel off my togs. I was in a playing suit, you know. It didn’t belong to me; it belonged to the team, so I left it in the gym.” “How long were you in the gymnasium?”
“Can’t tell; not a great while. It didn’t take me no longer than was necessary to git off my football suit, git into my own rags and leave. There wa’n’t nothing for me to hang round there for.” “After leaving the gymnasium where did you go?” “Lemme see,” hesitated Spotty as if in doubt. “I don’t seem to remember just w...
“Oh, I sort of poked along into the village.” “Into the village? Where did you go in the village?” “Oh, I remember now,” said Spotty suddenly. “I thought there was something wrong with Stone—thought it was queer he didn’t stay for practise; so I just run in to Mrs. Jones’ house to see him.” “You went to Stone’s room, d...
“Yep—I mean yes, sir.” “Was Stone there?” “No; his brother was, though.” “The blind boy?”
“Yes, he was there.” “How long did you stay in Stone’s room?” “Oh, lemme see. I’d have to guess at it, for I ain’t got no watch, and I didn’t take no notice of time, anyhow. Mebbe I was there five minutes or so.” “What did you do while you were there?”
“Talked with Ben’s brother.” “Did you sit down?” “Don’t b’lieve I did. Yes, come to think of it, I set on the edge of the bed while I was talkin’ to him. What are you askin’ me all these questions for? I don’t know anything about this business. I can’t tell anything that will do no good.” Spotty was perspiring freely, ...
“I hope you don’t think I’m lyin’,” protested the disturbed witness. “I ain’t got nothing to lie about.” “Did you see Ben Stone at all?” “Yep; he was just comin’ in as I was leavin’. He was in an awful rush.” “Did you stop to speak with him?”
“No; I was goin’ to stop, but he was in such a hurry I didn’t. He acted mighty queer to me—sort of scat like.” “That’s all, young man,” said the lawyer suddenly; and Spotty sank down with a breath of relief. Then came a surprise as the lawyer said: “The next witness for the defense will be William Piper. Piper, stand u...
Sleuth rose to his feet, and there was a stir among those boys of the academy who had absented themselves from school to attend the trial. What did Piper know about it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XXIX.
SLEUTH’S CLEVER WORK. Beneath the battery of wondering eyes turned upon him Sleuth bore himself proudly, for he felt that at last his hour had come—the hour in which he would demonstrate to the confusion of those who had sneered at him that he really possessed the keen, penetrating, analytical mind of a great detective...
“Piper,” said Lawyer Marsh, “I wish you to tell His Honor in your own language, and as concisely and clearly as possible, what you know about this case. Go on, my lad.” Sleuth cleared his throat. “Your Honor and gentlemen of the jury,” he began; and then he stopped short, realizing there was no jury. The slight titter ...
In the silence following Sleuth’s pause at the end of this rounded period Chipper Cooper was distinctly heard as he whispered in the ear of Charlie Tuttle: “Say, Chub, old Sleuthy is slinging English some, isn’t he?” The judge rapped for silence, requesting the witness to endeavor to tell his story in the simplest lang...