"Why do they pick on me? Tell me about it. Where is the evidence?"
A good deal can be said in a few moments, and Lorna gave the particulars of the discovery of the robbery and the evidence pointing to Ralph's complicity in it briefly and succinctly.
"Why, I haven't seen that address book of mine, nor the penknife, for a week," finally said Ralph, shaking his head.
"Where did you have 'em last, for sure?" was Tobias's shrewd question.
"I—I—— Well, I lost them."
"You did, heh? Do you know where you lost 'em?"
"Oh, I suppose so," grumbled the young man.
"Oh, sugar!" ejaculated the lightkeeper. "Out with it! This here has gone too far for you to dodge any questions, boy. I tell ye folks really think you know more'n you ought to about that burglary. Every little thing has got to be explained."
Ralph glanced at Lorna sheepishly.
"I got into a fist fight with a fellow out on the road to Harbor Bar two days before I started to join the crew of the Nelly G."