He had hardly spoken before Mr. Norton had him by the throat.
“You scamp!” he howled. “Call me a thief!”
CHAPTER XV.
SOME FACTS IN THE CASE.
I was completely dumfounded by the accusations that were brought against me.
The constable and the others were sure in their minds that I had stolen, or assisted at stealing, some diamonds from one of the safes in the Bayport Bank.
How they had come to track me I did not know; but I realized that the fact of my having that diamond in my possession, would carry much weight against me.
The story that I had found the stone upon the floor of the living-room of the mill was not believed, although it was the exact truth.
Mr. Norton’s manner put a sudden suspicion into my mind. He had told a deliberate falsehood in saying that I had been away from the mill the previous night. He must certainly have come in while I was sleeping in the rocker, and seen me.
He had spoken to me on the subject of obtaining money dishonestly. To my mind no fair and square man would have done so. Was Ford’s suspicion against him correct? I was half inclined to think that such was the fact.