“Sure,” agreed Merry, “and that’s the reason we didn’t show the handkerchief to the colonel, or spout any of our theories. He’s all wrapped up in Lenning, and wouldn’t believe anything against him.”
“There’s something else that makes me feel positive that it was Lenning who brought the money into the gulch last night,” said Ballard. “As the fellow came along, Fritz and I heard a sort of tinkling sound like bits of metal striking together. It was mighty faint, but we heard it. Now, that fancy hat of Lenning’s, I noticed yesterday, has bits of silver dangling from the brim, allee same Mexicano. Don’t you think——”
“Pink,” cried Merry enthusiastically, “you’re a born detective! By thunder, this last clew of yours is the best of the lot. It was Lenning who worked that game on Darrel, no two ways about it. Eh, Darrel?”
“Looks that way,” answered Darrel cautiously, “but we can’t be sure. Jode may have learned that I had come back, and possibly that scared him, so he tried to do me up with that supposed robbery.”
“Why was he scared?” demanded Merriwell. “It was because he evolved the notion that you were back to look into that forgery matter. And that wouldn’t scare him unless he had had a finger in it. Jode Lenning is our mark! We’ll keep after him until we clear you, Darrel. While we’re getting the football squad in shape here, we’ll do a little gum-shoe work on the side, and see if we can’t give you a clear title to the colonel’s friendship. How’s that?”
“I don’t know what I can ever do to square things with you fellows,” murmured Darrel, “but it was certainly a lucky day for me when I found Ophirites, instead of Gold Hillers, at Tinaja Wells!”
“Can that!” grunted Clancy. “You’re one of us, Darrel, and, like the Musketeers, with Chip and his chums, it’s ‘one for all, and all for one.’ And Darrel’s a chum, eh, Chip?”
“Just as long as he wants to be,” answered Merriwell heartily.