"Then I've come to arrest you, that's all," said the man. "I'm a constable, and the charge is stealing and having in your possession a certain diamond bracelet belonging to Samuel Mace of Tipton."
"Yes," cried Gill Mace, "he's got it about him. I saw him with it last night."
"Oh, then you are the sneak who was spying over our transom last night, eh?" said Frank, with a glance at Gill that made him quail.
"Search him, officer—get that bracelet," vociferated Gill. "He stole it from my uncle."
"Come with me, young man," ordered the officer, extending a hand to seize
Frank's arm.
"Hold on," spoke up Ritchie suddenly, stepping in between the two. "You don't arrest Frank Jordan until we know the particulars of this affair."
CHAPTER XXIV
CLEANING UP
The constable of Bellwood drew back a trifle at the warlike demonstration of Dean Ritchie and his friends. He probably had heard of the treatment of some of his kind who had been mobbed, ducked and sent home ingloriously when they had tried to interfere with the sports of the students at the school.
"Hold on, fellows," said Frank quickly, moving his champions aside. "This man is only doing his duty."