“Nevertheless, he is, and a deep one too. Why, he even stole one of the diamonds from the others before we had a chance to divide them evenly.”
It made me feel pretty bad to have Mr. Norton hurl his insinuations at me in this fashion. Should he continue to do so, would I be able to make the judge and the people at large think that I was entirely innocent?
“There is not one word of truth in what he says,” I cried. “Mr. Walters, he is a thoroughly bad man; and before his trial is over you will find it so.”
“I am not speaking in defense of myself,” said Norton maliciously. “I know I have done wrong; but it was only because this boy and his two friends dragged me into it.”
I was nearly dumfounded by this audacious assertion, but before I could utter a word Mr. Walters broke in,—
“Funny if the boy is guilty he didn’t skip out himself without trying to arrest you.”
“Oh, he’s a deep one,” was Mr. Norton’s retort. “He knew that to do so would make him appear innocent. He has a long head on his shoulders.”
“Well, that ain’t here or there. I’ll take you both along.”
After this there was a long spell of silence. I was busy thinking over what my guardian had said, and wondering what would be the outcome of his capture.