"Well, I was coming to tell Tom that I saw Sam Heller being taken to the doctor's office by old Appleby," went on George.
"Get out!" cried Bert, incredulously.
"Sam Heller!" gasped Jack. "I wonder if Appleby's found out that it was Sam who poisoned his horses, and set the hay on fire?"
"That's it, I believe," said George. "That's why I came to tell Tom.
You're cleared all right now, old man."
His chums looked at him, but Tom only shook his head. "No such luck," he said in disappointed tones. "Sam may have been corralled by the old farmer, but it's for something else besides the fire and poisoning."
"What makes you think so?" asked Jack. "Why won't you believe Sam
Heller guilty, Tom."
"Because I know he isn't."
"You do? Then you must know who is."
"No, that doesn't follow."
"Look here!" cried Jack, coming close to his chum, and placing his hands on his shoulders, the while looking him squarely into the eyes. "I can't understand you. Here you go and say Sam isn't guilty, and you know it. And yet you say you don't know who did the business. You didn't do it yourself, I'm sure, and yet———"