“You mean he couldn’t have been the kleptomaniantic thief?” chuckled Bobby.
Laura began to laugh softly herself. “Nor could he have been the person we—and the Barnacle—have been trailing,” she said, suddenly.
“Why not?” demanded Jess and Bobby together.
“Did you ever notice Professor Dimp’s feet?” asked Mother Wit.
“Horrors! No. Never saw him barefooted,” said Bobby.
“Miss Smartie! His shoes, then?” proceeded the unruffled Laura. 154
“I—I––Why, no,” admitted Bobby.
“Look at them now. He’s not a big man, but he has plentiful understandings,” chuckled Laura. “See?”
“Plain!” exclaimed Jess, peering through the branches.
“And those footprints we followed were of a person who wears a narrow, small boot. Small for a man, I mean. I don’t believe the old Prof. ever could get into such shoes.”