"But Jack is innocent," came from several of the lads in unison.
"Of course he is—and so is his father," answered Joe.
"Gee, if only they round up the real thieves!" sighed one of the other boys. "Why, my dad won't let me park our car anywhere near the Shore Road any more!"
"My dad is getting so he won't hardly park anywhere," added another lad, and at this there was a general laugh.
"Those thieves are getting on everybody's nerves—they ought to be rounded up."
"Yes, and the sooner the better," declared Frank.
The kind words of his chums were very pleasing to Jack Dodd. Yet he was very sober as he entered the school building. He could not help but think of what might happen if he and his father could not clear their name.
"We may have to go to prison after all," he sighed dolefully.