“’Tain’t worth while to go into the shanty, seein’ that there ain’t no place there to hide things in,” said Uncle Ruben, as he got off his horse and picked up a stout stick. “Take this here, an’ poke around in the leaves, an’ jest as like as not, you’ll find something.”
“I don’t want it,” answered the officer. “If you think there is any stolen property concealed about here, you had better look around and find it yourself.”
This was a decided snub, but Uncle Ruben was not at all abashed by it. He took a peep into the cabin, and then went around behind it, followed by the sheriff and all his party.
Bob Howard held back, and, by the aid of some mysterious schoolboy telegraphy, brought his friend Dick to his side.
“Well, Bob, isn’t that a nice uncle for any decent boy to have?” said Dick. “If I were in George’s place, I wouldn’t acknowledge the relationship. He acts for all the world as though he wanted to find some evidence against his nephew. But what is the matter with you? Your face is a yard long.”
“They’re going to find something around there,” replied Bob, in an earnest whisper. “You hear me? As sure as you live, they are going to find something!”
“No!” exclaimed Dick, who knew by the expression on his friend’s face that the latter had some good reason for being so positive.
“But I say they are. Look here. While you were telling your story, those three fellows acted as though they were frightened nearly out of their wits. Benson trembled like a leaf, and Wallace and Forbes were as white as ghosts. They showed their guilt so very plainly that it is a wonder to me that those around them didn’t notice it.”
“Perhaps they were giving all their attention to me,” observed Dick. “They certainly stared at me very hard.”
“But that isn’t all,” continued Bob. “Just the minute that Uncle Ruben, as George calls him, proposed that the premises should be searched, the appearance of those three boys changed as if by magic. They looked relieved at once, and I heard Wallace say, ‘If I were Mr. Newton, I would search the shanty, warrant or no warrant. It is plain that George can’t live on nothing, and as he has no visible means of support—’ What’s that? Didn’t I tell you that they would find something? Let’s go around there.”