Dora and Dorothy looked at each other, and each slowly shook her head.
"Do you suppose the police would accept Tommy's testimony?" Dora asked, sadly.
CHAPTER XVI
THE CANOE RACE
The twins were very sorry for Alice and the other Longs and they did not believe the absent Billy guilty as charged; but who in authority would believe the testimony of such a little boy as Tommy? The fact that Billy had been at home, and in his bed, all the night of the burglary at Stresch & Potter's store was established in the minds of Billy's friends only.
The twins saw Chet Belding on the way home and heard some news, after telling Billy's friend of what Tommy had said.
"Of course Billy hadn't any hand in that robbery," Chet declared. "But I wish he hadn't run away. Father and Mr. Hargrew say they'd both go his bail. I wish I knew where he was."
"Didn't you think he was hiding somewhere on Cavern Island?" asked Dora, shrewdly.
"Yes, I did. I found his knife Saturday when we were in that cave," admitted Chet, frankly. "Don't you girls tell anybody. But Lance and I were through all the caverns with a man who knows them like a book—that was after the police searched. He couldn't be found.