"I told you he had it. Didn't I say so?" crowed and chuckled the triumphant
Gill.
"However, I didn't steal it," continued Frank. "There is a story I should like to tell you, Professor Elliott. Its telling now may save some trouble later on."
"Yes—yes," nodded Mr. Elliott in a somewhat disturbed way. "Of course there is a mistake. Officer, please come with me to the library. I wish to look into this affair."
"I would like to have Gill Mace and my friend, Ned Foreman, come with us, sir," suggested Frank.
"Certainly, Jordan. Charged with robbery! Dear me! Officer, this is a pretty serious action on your part."
"I'm only doing my legal duty, sir," insisted the constable.
"You have a warrant for the arrest of our student, then?"
"No, sir, I haven't," acknowledged the officer, "but the sheriff said I had a right to act in the premises."
"How so?" demanded Mr. Elliott.
"This lad, Mace, came to us and declared that he had seen in the possession of the Jordan boy a diamond bracelet stolen from his uncle at Tipton, the town that both of them came from."