“Now, Mr. Merriwell,” said the sergeant, “I will listen to your story. Officer at the door, take care that none of the witnesses depart until they are given permission.”
Frank told his story briefly, concisely, and convincingly. Barely had he finished when the officer who made the arrest came in, looking crestfallen and disgusted.
“Where is the lady, Brandon?” asked the sergeant.
“I can’t find her, sir,” confessed the policeman. “She is nowhere in the vicinity.”
“Then it seems you have been very careless in permitting her to slip away. Now there is no one to make a charge against the prisoner.”
“The witnesses—perhaps some of them will do so.”
The sergeant turned sharply on the little man, to whom he fired the question:
“Did you witness this assault on the unknown lady, sir?”
The little man jumped.
“No, sus-sus-sir,” he stammered; “but I——”