“What?”
“Yes. I caught him with these jewels in his pocket. He tried hard to escape, and when he found he could not, he raised the cry you heard.”
The crowd looked from the slim man to Bob.
“That’s not true!” cried Bob. “I saw this man acting rather strangely and I watched him. He picked the lock of the door, and——”
“Tut, tut!” put in the sneak-thief. “Why, boy, do you know who I am?”
“I don’t care if you are the President. You stole those jewels, and you know it.”
“I am Senator Briscoe from the West, looking up my interest in the T. W. & L. Railroad. To say I am a sneak-thief is preposterous. I am afraid,” went on the pretended senator, with a wave of his hand, “that this youth is not quite right in his mind. Landlord, do you know him?”
“Yes, I do,” returned Fitt. “And I don’t know you,” he added, suspiciously.
“I can refer you to President Maverick of the railroad. You are making a sad mistake, and I must request you to let go of me.”
Fitt was rather a nervous man, and of a weak turn of mind. At these smooth words he let go his hold, and so did the other man.