He was accusing Frank Allen of getting the jewels!
CHAPTER XVIII
THE ROCKET RACES THE SPEEDAWAY
Lanky Wallace made a move as if would leap out and throttle the fellow for making such an accusation.
Frank’s arm restrained him, though, and the chief of police quickly signaled for all of them to be quiet.
“Marmette, you’re not telling the truth. That young fellow knew nothing about this. If he had known as much as you say, he would have had the police on us by this time.”
The leader of the little gang spoke menacingly to the prisoner. There was no answer from Jed Marmette, and he continued:
“You’ve hidden that box somewhere. No use to lie out of it. Come across, or you go down in the river. No more foolishness!”
These were tense moments. Frank Allen wondered why the chief did not step forward and take command of the situation, for he was surely backed by a crowd large enough to take these three prisoners.
What had Jed Marmette done with the jewels? Was it possible that he had seen the boys or was this merely a ruse which had risen suddenly in his mind?