"He did." Hally grew red in the face. "I wasn't going to mention it, but now you ask me a direct question I'll not tell a falsehood. He took the shoes and hid them in the trunk room. I caught him doing it, but I thought it was only a joke, and so kept silent. Then, after you fellows rescued me from the hole in the snow, I made Nat send the shoes back. At first I was going to tell on him, but, somehow, I didn't want to play the sneak."
"I understand," answered Dave. He turned to Shadow. "This clears you."
"So it does, Shadow, and I am mighty glad of it," put in Phil.
"Yes, it clears me," answered the student who was known as a sleep-walker. "Or at least, I will be cleared—after I am done with Nat Poole," and Shadow looked at the money-lender's son in a manner that was full of grim significance.
CHAPTER XXIX
HOOKER MONTGOMERY'S REVELATION
"What do you want?" demanded Nat, and his voice trembled a little, for he realized that he was cornered.
"In the first place, I think you'll have to restore Phil's missing gym. shoe," remarked Dave dryly. "How about it, Phil?"
"That's so," answered the shipowner's son.