"The law must take its course, Mr. Crabtree," said Dick. He turned to Chief Burger. "Take him, and Tom can go with you, to make the charge for us and for Mrs. Stanhope. I think Detective Trigger had better come with Sam and me to hunt for Dan Baxter."
So it was arranged, and soon Crabtree was walking into Cedarville with the chief of police on one side of him and Tom on the other. The sight of a man being placed under arrest was an unusual one, and soon a crowd began to follow the three.
"It's Mr. Crabtree that used to teach at Putnam Hall," said one.
"My, but ain't he a sight."
"Must have tried to get away by jumping into the lake," suggested another.
"What's he arrested for?" asked a third.
Nobody in the crowd knew, and consequently all followed to the police headquarters.
Here Chief Burger, who also acted as justice of police, took down
Tom's charge against the former teacher.
"Breaking in and trying to steal," said Tom.
"It's not so!" cried Crabtree. "Boy, this is—ahem—infamous! I never stole a thing in my life!"
"We will prove it when your trial comes off," answered Tom coolly.