"Course he is. They told me Bill was a desperate man, and I didn't want to take chances," replied the tramp, calmly.
"It's sure Bill Brockholt!" ejaculated Whalen, bending over the prisoner.
Frank had guessed this already, and he felt like throwing up his cap with delight. Willie, the returned wanderer, had indeed vindicated himself in the eye of the law.
Lanky rushed up to the tall tramp and grasped his hand.
"Bully for you, Willie!" he cried, exultantly, "that's the time you did it! I've been just cracking my brain to remember where I saw you. And it just burst in on me when we were up at the farm. You're wanted there, Willie, and wanted bad. Just you get moving in the morning, and fill in the gap where you belong!"
The other shook his head sadly.
"I reckon you don't just know why I left home, Lanky," he said, mournfully.
"Oh! but we do though; and that long-lost pocketbook has been found!" cried Lanky.
"That's good news you're telling me, boy!" burst out in hoarse tones from the tramp; while Chief Hogg and his assistants looked up from examining the prisoner to gaze more critically at the speaker, as a suspicion of the truth began to dawn upon their minds.
"My chum here found it back of the lower drawer in the old man's desk. My! but your father was staggered. He just sat there and groaned as he looked at it, and wished he could only see you again to make it all up. We didn't tell him, because we wanted to make sure it was you. But take my advice, Bill, and skip up there in the morning the first thing. Sure there'll be a warm welcome for you."