“Do you—do you think Noddy—er—Noddy took the money?” asked Bob in a hesitating tone. He felt rather delicate about accusing an acquaintance, even one so undesirable as Noddy, of a serious crime.
“Well, I hate to think so, but it does look suspicious,” said Ned. “He certainly acted afraid because he met me.”
“Could any one get out of the office any way except going through the front door?” asked Bob.
“Yes,” replied Ned. “There is a back door that goes out into the mill yard. From the yard a person could pass onto the road along the river, and then come up along the north side of the mill fence, on Peterson street.”
“And it was at the corner of Peterson street and Maple alley that you met Noddy, wasn’t it?”
“That’s just where it was.”
There was silence for a few minutes among the boys. Each one was busy with disagreeable thoughts.
“Did any of you hear how the mill office door was opened?” asked Ned.
“The lock wasn’t forced on either the back or front door,” answered Jerry. “So I was told. The police think the robber used a skeleton key.”
“Then it comes right down to a question. Is Noddy Nixon guilty?” asked Bob solemnly.