“Oh, shucks!” exclaimed Billson. “All because he was crying to be let out of the gym. the night of the first raid?”
“Well, Jackway admits he was there,” repeated Chet.
“And Jackway is a good deal of a fool, too,” snarled Billson. “Say! there’s Rufe and his mother in the corridor now, going to see Johnny in the children’s ward. You bring Rufe into this ward for a minute. I want to show you something.”
Much puzzled, Chet Belding did as he was bid.
“Come here, Rufie,” said Billson, beckoning to the gangling youth. “I want to show you somebody. Come here.”
Billson swung back a section of the screen that hid Hebron Pocock’s bed. The big fellow was lying there with his eyes closed, but he opened them quickly when Rufe appeared, and scowled.
“Watcher want here, gooney?” he demanded.
Rufus sprang back and looked about for escape, his weak face working pitifully. But Chet and Billson barred the way of escape. Rufe began to snivel.
“What’s the matter with you?” demanded Chet.
“Are you afraid of this man?” asked Billson.