“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Didn’t ye jest say ye was comin’ t’ tell us about th’ robbery?” demanded Mr. Walker.
“Yes, but—”
“Then I arrest ye fer the burglarizin’ of Dr. Maxwell’s house last night!” cried Constable Walker, also seizing Dan by the coat, determined not to be outdone by his companion.
“Tell ’em you didn’t do it, Dan!” exclaimed the hired man. “I know you didn’t.”
“Thank you,” said the boy, touched by these friendly words. “Of course I did not commit the robbery, though I may be able to tell you something about it.”
“I guess ye kin; more than’s good fer ye,” and Constable Walker laughed sarcastically.
“You should warn him that anything he says may be used against him,” declared the hired man. “That’s the law, and you know it. You have no right to trap him into saying something that may incriminate him.”
“Yes, that’s right,” admitted Mr. Wolff. “It’s my lawful duty,” he went on, “to state that anythin’ ye say will be used for trial. So ye’d better keep still, ’less you want to tell,” he added cunningly.
“I have nothing to conceal,” said Dan. “I can easily prove that I was some miles away from here at the time of the robbery. If Mr. Savage was here he would tell you. As I said before, I may know something that will be of service to the authorities. I saw some strange men last night, and their actions puzzled me. I was on my way to tell you, and—”