Dick heard the other make this accusation with a sinking heart. Could it be possible after all Asa Gardner was guilty of taking the things that had disappeared?
“Why, when you stop to think of it, Dan,” he told his informant, “while a boy given to pilfering might carry off a watch if sorely tempted, what earthly use would he have for Peg’s new aluminum frying-pan?”
This seemed to be a poser, and Dan shrugged his shoulders and made a whimsical face. A new idea came to him, however, and almost immediately he spoke up again.
“Well it’s just this way, Dick. My mother always said that taking things as some people do becomes a disease with them. I’ve read of wealthy women who steal things in stores. They call them kleptomaniacs. That means they take all sorts of things when they see a good chance, even if they haven’t the least bit of use for the same.”
“Then your mother thinks Asa was influenced that way when some people called him light-fingered, and some of them said he was a common thief?” continued Dick.
“Yes, that’s what she thought,” replied Dan. “You know I’ve got the dearest mother of any fellow in all Cliffwood, and she hates to think badly of any boy.”
“And we mustn’t forget that Asa hasn’t any mother—now,” added Dick softly, as he cast a pitying look across to where the object of their conversation was helping Sunny Jim gather together the breakfast dishes and pans, and acting as though he really liked the work.
“I hate myself for suspecting him, Dick,” honest Dan went on to say. “And so far as my losing that watch goes I don’t mean to push the thing any further. Whoever took it is welcome to his booty, for all of me.”
“On my part,” said Dick, firmly, “I feel different about it. We can’t go on this way, losing things, and even suspecting each other. The mystery must be cleared up sooner or later. I’ll step over and get to talking with Asa. Perhaps I can ask him if he happened to be up during the night. I’d like it if we could go to Mr. Bartlett and tell him the whole thing was straightened out.”
“Oh, what’s the use of going to Asa?” objected Dan. “He’s sure to deny it. I wonder now,” he added, after a pause, “if there could be such a thing as Asa, or any other fellow here, for that matter, being a sleep walker?”