“Ah—quite so, quite so, Merriwell!”
Colonel Gunn swung around in his chair, taking a paper from the desk before him, and proceeded to elucidate.
“Putting up at the Dobbs Hotel in the village, Merriwell, is a gentleman named—ah—Hostetter, Ezra Hostetter. It is his assertion that at some time last night, some person or persons unknown did feloniously gain admittance to his room at the hotel, and did—ah—remove from beneath his pillow a black leather wallet, containing—ah—certain papers. The wallet also contained a thousand dollars in hundred-dollar bills.”
“He must have been pining for adventure, sir, to carry that much around with him in currency,” observed Frank. The colonel’s mouth twitched slightly. “But if the thieves are unknown, where does Randall come in? He was in barracks last night, as would be easy to prove.”
“That is just the—ah—difficulty,” observed the colonel heavily, fixing his eye on Randall. “According to the inspector’s report, Mr. Randall and his roommate were asleep at the proper time. But when I asked Mr. Randall whether he had been to the village last night, he admitted it. Is not that correct, sir?”
“Of course, Colonel Gunn,” said the Southerner proudly. “There was a dummy in my bed to fool the inspector. But when you asked, of course, I would not lie about it, sir.”
“A highly proper—ah—sentiment, Mr. Randall,” said the colonel. He stopped Merry with uplifted hand. “One moment, sir! Mr. Randall was seen to enter the hotel in question, and to leave, each time by the back door, and in a stealthy manner. When I asked him for an explanation, he—ah—asked that you be sent for.”
Merry looked at the Southerner in astonishment. Randall stood erect, a dark flush in his cheeks, his eyes desperate. But he had regained his self-control.
“I was frightened, Chip,” he said quietly. “Of course, you know nothing about it, only the evidence seemed so terribly circumstantial that you were the first person I thought of.”
“I’m glad you did think of me, old man,” said Chip, smiling. “But let’s get this business straightened out. May I ask who observed Randall’s entry and departure, Colonel Gunn?”