“You did make something of a fuss,” acknowledged Hanks, as he dropped the expiring match. “You seemed to have me on the hip just then, but a little later you made a bad mess for yourself. Of course, I shall stand by my agreement and say nothing about that. I’ll likewise keep silent the two friends who were with me when we caught you sacking my room.”
“When you caught me trying to recover some of my goods which you had beaten me out of,” said Dale hotly.
“Were the watch and the ring we found on you goods of yours?” sneered Hanks. “If I remember right, the watch bore my monogram, and I think I can prove that I bought the ring with my own money.”
“With the money you had cheated your victims out of.”
“You were doing a little fine burglar work, Spark. You can’t deny that.”
“I took that watch and ring with the idea of holding them until I could force you to give up my property.”
“That’s a nice little excuse, Sparkfair, but it happened that several other fellows who had never obtained any of your property recently lost valuable articles from their rooms. It was believed that the thief was a college man, and it was freely stated that he would be expelled and punished if detected. You know well enough what is coming to you if I ever tell or permit my friends to tell how you were caught.”
“I’ll not take the pains to deny that I am the suspected thief,” said Dale. “I have hopes that the real thief will be found.”
“That’s a pretty little bluff,” sneered Hanks, “but it doesn’t go with me. Now, don’t get excited. Don’t make any fighting talk. You won’t fight, because you don’t dare.”
“Not at present,” acknowledged Dale. “But my time will come. I’m going back to the house.”