"We can't favor him on that account, Penny."
"I realize that, but he's innocent. At least his worst crime was to drive the truck which contained the stolen tires. He only did that because Brunner threatened him."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, I am. I overheard Brunner quarreling with him."
Penny then began a rapid account of all that she had witnessed at the old sawmill. Several of the policemen gathered near to hear the story. Brunner, handcuffed to an officer, listened intently to her words.
"It's all a lie," he interrupted. "This Davis boy is the son of an old friend of mine. Because I thought so much of his father I came here tonight to try to save the boy from his own folly. I pleaded with him to give up his career of crime—"
"And why were you found in the company of Rap Molberg?" Mr. Nichols questioned severely.
"I was trying to think of some way——"
"Never mind," the detective cut him short. "You can explain it to the judge."
While Brunner, Molberg and the men who had been captured with them were being loaded into police cars, an automobile was observed coming toward the lane which led to the sawmill.