Her speech was terminated abruptly by the appearance of the detective. He put a tentative hand on Ralph's shoulder.
"So this is the chap I'm looking for, is it?" he said. "Do I understand this is Ralph Endicott?"
"Oh, sugar!" muttered Tobias, with disgust. "I'd forgot all about that feller."
CHAPTER XXX
A SILVER-BANDED PIPE
Instinctively Ralph Endicott drew away from the shabby man, but stared at him curiously.
"I beg your pardon," he said. "If you wish to speak with me, come up to the house later. Anybody will tell you where I live."
"Say, young fellow, don't you get flossy with me," snarled the detective. "I been waiting for you some time. We want to know what you know about that bank burglary."
"About what bank burglary?" repeated the young man, and his surprise was so genuine that Lorna sighed her audible relief.
"The Clinkerport Bank. You know well enough. Don't make it worse for yourself by denying knowledge of it. You've got to go to town with me and see Mr. Arad Thompson."