“Supposing some one gave that bill to me before I gave it to Paul?” asked Noddy.
“If you can prove that it will be a good thing for you,” Jerry went on. “We have no desire, Noddy, to fasten this on you, but Ned must be cleared and the robbery mystery ended. Tell me who gave you the queer bank bill?”
But Noddy kept silent.
“On the night of the mill fire,” Jerry went on, “we found the hammer and chisel that were used to cut the safe open, and also the dark lantern. If anything more is needed, Bill Berry will—”
“If Bill Berry tells that he saw me in the mill—!” cried Noddy, and then he stopped.
“We may need Bill’s testimony,” Jerry said. “You see we have nearly everything, Noddy. What have you to say?”
Noddy said nothing for a few minutes. He seemed ill at ease. Then he burst out:
“I may as well confess! You cubs have spied on me to good advantage. I had to take that money! I needed it to pay my debts. I heard Tom Judson say it was in the safe that afternoon. I knew the old iron box was easy to crack. I had no trouble to get in, and I began work. When I was almost through I looked up, and saw Bill Berry looking in at me. I offered to go shares with him if he would keep quiet, and he did. Then, after a while he said another man, a chum of his, had seen me also, and I had to give him money. He would have shot me if I hadn’t. It was one night in a lonely house.”
Jerry nodded. He well remembered that night.
“Then,” went on Noddy, “Bill suggested throwing the blame on Ned, because he was around the mill that night. It didn’t work, however. Now, I guess the game is up. What are you going to do?”