“More than that, I never did believe that you took it. My doubts caused me to keep silent when I made the discovery. Not a single person knows I lost the money.”
“You—you kept silent—for my sake?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, Frank, again you have shown yourself the noblest fellow in the whole wide world. But I was not worth it! Oh, I am so ashamed of myself! I am such a mean, degraded creature!”
“You are nothing of the sort, Bart. You are too quick and passionate, and you have made a false step, but there is plenty of time to turn back.”
“I’ll never rest till I bring the real robber to justice!” vowed Hodge.
Then he gave a sudden cry:
“What’s this?”
He took something out of the grip—a ring!
Frank snatched it from Bart’s fingers and looked at it. Then, with remarkable coolness and a feeling of unspeakable satisfaction, he said: