“What for?” I asked, and I saw that Mr. Norton was equally curious to know.
There was no reply to this, and I backed away.
“Stop, Rube,” said Pointer. “Remember you are now under arrest.”
“Arrest!” I gasped.
“Exactly, young man,” added Mr. Webster. “Search him at once.”
I was too much taken aback to protest, and the constable quickly turned my pockets inside out.
“Nothing much of value,” said Pointer.
“Are you sure?” questioned the president of the bank eagerly.
The constable made another search, and finally brought to light the stone I had picked up on the floor.
“Here is one of ’em!” he cried. “By George, Rube, to tell the honest truth, I didn’t think it of you,” he added in a lower tone.