“Yes,” said Allan, mystified.
The superintendent gave a peculiar grunt. “Do you know,” he demanded, drawing his eyebrows together, “that it is Sam Cheney who has been suspected of starting the fire?”
Allan looked amazed and shook his head.
“You don’t suppose that Cheney boy could have stolen them, do you?” asked Mrs. Hartel.
“Why not?” the superintendent demanded.
Allan was staring at the lamp. “I believe they are stolen!” he cried. “I remember that I locked that door to-night—and it was unlocked when I went up for those plates just now.”
Dr. Hartel appeared at this moment, and the superintendent blurted out, “Doctor, I guess we’ve got a case for the police here.”
“The police?” The Doctor looked his astonishment.
“It looks as if the Cheney boy had stolen those plates.”
“Stolen them?” The Doctor listened to Allan’s story, and questioned him closely. “It does look like it,” the Doctor admitted.