"With Conny Degger!" murmured Lorna.
"Yes, it was with him," admitted Ralph. "After I got home I saw my watch chain had been broken and the knife was gone. The address book had fallen out of my vest pocket, too. When I went back there the next morning I could find neither, of course. Right on the public road, you see. Anybody might have picked them up."
"Oh, sugar!" rejoined Tobias before Lorna could speak. "Anybody wouldn't have left the knife and the book right where they'd p'int suspicion at you as robbing the bank. But somebody would."
"Oh, Tobias!" gasped Lorna.
"Yes, I been having my suspicions right along," said the lightkeeper. "Tell us something more, Ralphie. Why did you start for New Bedford, and then come back to town again? All these things seem to p'int to trouble."
The young man, hesitating, flashed another deprecatory glance at Lorna. He cleared his throat.
"Why, you see, Tobias, I got a bunch of mail at the post-office just before I boarded the train. Among the letters was one from a—er—— Well, from a person whom I knew to be in trouble. Serious trouble. Er—the person needed help at once—financial help. I could give that help by returning, drawing some money I had in the Clinkerport Bank, and sending it, registered, to this needy person.
"So, you see," Ralph continued, with more confidence, "I did that. I could not then get to New Bedford in time to join the Nelly G. at the hour Cap'n Pritchett had told me she would slip her cable. I sent him a telegram explaining that I would try to pick the Nelly G. up off the coast down yonder. I went down past Peehawket on an empty freight train, and found Gyp Pellet and his Gullwing."
"We know all about that, Ralphie," said Tobias. "How you went out and was picked up by Cap Pritchett. But you can see yourself it looked suspicious—'specially to the gossips. Ho—hum! Wal, now, lemme tell you, I had my own suspicions—and I have 'em yet."
"What do you mean?" Ralph asked, still scowling in a puzzled way. "I don't see who could have put that book and that penknife there."